Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League team news, line-ups and more today

Pep Guardiola himself confirmed that Stones and Walker were facing a spell on the sidelines, with both in a race against time to be fit to face Real Madrid on 9 April.

But Manuel Akanji, who missed training on Thursday, should be fit to take one of the spots in defence and Ederson is set to return in goal after suffering a thigh injury in the draw against Liverpool.

“Kyle and John are out,” said Guardiola. “It is what it is. [The injury for] Kyle tougher than John but I don’t know how many games.”

A reminder of the early team news for both sides. Both teams come in the clash with injury concerns following the international break.

For the home side, Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish are likely to be fit once more.

As well as heaping praise on Pep Guardiola, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his side to treat their trip to title rivals Manchester City as a home fixture.

The Gunners are a point above the reigning champions at the top of the table ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Etihad Stadium – where Arsenal have lost on their last seven visits.

Asked why his team are so good away from home, Arteta replied: “It’s probably trying to play away like we do at home and to have that belief and aggression in our play.

“We have to play every team twice and we know the fixtures that we have and we’re looking forward to it.

“It is different, the previous games when we went there and this season. Now I hope we can show that on the pitch.”

We’re still a few hours away from kick-off, but here’s a reminder of how you can watch today’s game.

The match will kick-off at 4:30pm BST on Sunday 31 March at the Etihad Stadium.

will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage following Liverpool’s clash with Brighton in what is another key clash in the title race.

If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

While Rodri was certainly a pivotal part of City’s treble-winning campaign last season, Arsenal may now have their own star midfielder to turn the tide in their favour.

Guardiola has rarely had reasons to wonder what might have been and rue. Declan Rice, however, could be the exception. If Arsenal win a first Premier League in two decades, it will in part be because of a player City offered £90m for; if Guardiola’s side fail to become champions for a fourth successive season, it may be because of two games against Arsenal, against Rice.

Even if Rice’s preference for Arsenal may prove the choice that decides the title race, it’s almost certainly the move that gave us a title race to begin with. 

And while Rodri feels victory would give City a psychological boost, he believes a loss would leave them with no margin for error.

“It’s a very, very important match,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s going to be decisive, but it will be very important for the mental fight.

Man City have had an excellent record against Arsenal in recent years, winning eight straight games from October 2020 up until this season’s Community Shield fixture, which Mikel Arteta’s men won on penalties.

City have won eight consecutive home matches against Arsenal in all competitions since a 2-2 Premier League draw in May 2016. However, Arsenal won the reverse fixture at the Emirates in October, ending a run of 12 successive league wins for City. The Gunners are looking for their first league double over City since the 2007-08 season.

The home side have won five of their last six games, including convincing wins against Luton, Manchester United and FC Copenhagen. They also drew at Anfield earlier in March, in what could prove to be a pivotal result for Arsenal’s title hopes.

This season, City are unbeaten in 38 matches at the Etihad in all competitions, winning 33 and drawing five. However, City are winless in all five of their league fixtures this season against top-five sides, drawing three and losing two.

Meanwhile Arsenal, who squeezed through on penalties against Porto in the Champions League, were the league’s form team in February and March, beating Liverpool while putting four past Newcastle, five past Burnley and six past West Ham and Sheffield United. In 2024, they’ve scored 33 goals and conceded just four.

The Gunners have won just once in 19 previous Premier League away fixtures against City, and have lost each of their last five.

Ahead of Liverpool’s earlier kick-off, a look at which of the three title contenders has the ‘best’ remaining fixtures.

After that, as the Premier League title race enters April, the run-in can truly begin. But which team has the best fixtures and who has the hardest run of games to end the season? Here’s where the title could be won and lost.